Compartment-carrier having reinforced handle partition junctures



Jan. 10, 1967 G. v. WOODLING COMPARTMENT-CARRIER HAVING REINFORCED HANDLE PARTITION JUNCTURES Filed Oct 22, 1965 L .T ll 53 RM 6mw Wm .a.%

United States Patent ()fiice 3,2911%? Patented Jan. 10, 1967 3,297,197 COMPARTMENT-CARRIER HAVING REINFORCED HANDLE PARTITION JUNCTURES George V. Woodling, 22977 W. Lake Road, Rocky River, Ohio 44116 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,616 3 Claims. (Cl. 220113) My invention relates to compartment-carriers for carrying products and more particularly for carrying products such as bottles and similar items.

The product carriers are usually formed of paperboard sheets and they generally comprise a box compartment having a centrally disposed handle with cross-partitions extending therefrom which divide the box compartment into subcompartments disposed in two rows with onehalf of the number of bottles on each side of the handle. While the description and drawings show a carrier having six subcompartments disposed in two rows of three each on each side of the handle, it is understood that my invention may be modified to include any number of subcompartments in a row on each side of the handle.

In a carrier, it is the form or shape of the partitions that determines the contour of the upper edge of the side walls. For display purposes, it is desirable that the contour of the upper edge of at least one of the side walls be symmetrical in design. In a six-bottle carrier, this symmetry in design may be achieved by making the upper edge of the side Walls for the middle subcompartment higher than the upper edges for the two end subcornpartments. This symmetry in design is illustrated in my Patent No. 3,152,719 and may be referred to as a high-center display carrier.

In high-center display carriers, a weak point is found to exist where the partitions are joined to the handle. The inner ends of the partitions on one side of the handle are arranged respectively back-toback with the inner ends of the partitions on the other side of the handle. In a carrier having six subco-mpartments disposed in two rows of three on each side of the handle, there are two sets of back-to-back partition junctures where the inner ends of the partitions are connected to the handle. The number of sets of back-to-back partition junctures in a carrier is equal to the number of subcompartments in a single row on one side of the handle less one. The number of partitions in the entire carrier may be expressed as 2(n1) where (n) is the number of subcompartments in a single row. In a highcenter display carrier, at least one of these sets of backto-back partition junctures is found to be weak, which is an inherent fault in the design of the carrier.

An object of my invention is to provide a firm backto-back partition juncture for both sets of opposed partition members and at the same time provide a highcenter display carrier on at least the front side of the carrier which is displayed to the customers.

In a high-center display carrier, when it is foldably col-lapsed as it is when it is being glued and pressed together during assembly, there are at least two partition members folded in a reverse direction against the handle, that is, the foldable hinge-connection for each partition is bent 180 degrees. These two reversibly folded partition members are inherent in the design of such a carrier and give rise to a weak partition juncture. These two reversibly folded partition members cause also thick portions which interfere with the proper gluing and pressing of the foldably collapsed panels and partitions during assembly.

Another object of my invention is to facilitate the gluing and pressing operation during assembly whereby the pressing operation is given full opportunity to press the partition junctures firmly against each Without interference from a thick portion.

Another object of my invention is the provision in a carrier of two opposed partition members having inner ends foldably connected back-to-back to the handle, wherein at least one of the two partition members in the foldably collapsed condition of the carrier is not folded in a reverse direction, thereby avoiding an objectionable thick portion.

Another object of my invention is to provide four thicknesses at all sets of these back-to-back partition junctures, particularly at the weak partition juncture, whereby a strong back-to-back partition juncture is provided thereat.

In a high-center display carrier the handle panel between the two sets of partition junctures is of necessity cut away, whereby the bottom edge of the handle between the two sets of partition junctures is too high to give any protection against the bottles hitting each other.

Another object of my invention is to provide a handle panel with a low edge between the two sets of partition junctures and at the same time provide at least a highcenter display on the front side of the carrier which is displayed to the customer.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following descrip tion and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the rear side of a carrier embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the front side of the carrier in FIGURE 1 and showing a high-center display;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a paperboard blank from which my carrier may be constructed;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1, the line 4-4 passing horizontally through the riser portions of the handle, then downwardly along the vertical side edges of the risers, and thence horizontally through the mid-section of the partition junctures;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of FIGURE 4, showing particularly the four thicknesses at the back-to-back partition junctures when the panels are foldably collapsed in assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of FIGURE 3, showing the addition of a foldable filler panel; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of FIGURE 4, showing the addition of the foldable filler panel.

With reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the preferred product carrier comprises a box compartment identified by the reference character 20 having a centrally disposed handle 21 with cross-partitions 22, 23, 24 and 25 extending from the handle 21 which divides the box compartment 20 into six subcompartments disposed in two rows of three each on each side of the handle. The box compartment 20 has a base comprising two panels 26 and 27.

The blank from which the carrier is made is shown in FIGURE 2. The box compartment has two side wall means and two end wall means. The two side wall means comprise first and second opposed side walls 30 and 31 having lower edges respectively connected to the outer edges of the base panels 26 and 27. The blank has an upper end portion 28 and this is glued to the marginal edge portion of the base panel 27. The carrier is made of one piece and all the fold lines are integral. The end wall means comprises first and second pairs of end panels. The first pair of end panels comprises two panels 32 and 33 and the second pair of end panels comprises two panels 34 and 35. The first pair of end panels 32 and 33 have inner adjacent edges 36 and 37. A first pair of infold panels 40 and 41 extend inwardly in face-contacting relation and are secured together, such as by glue, to connect the inner adjacent edges 36 and 37 of the first pair of panels 32 and 33. The first pair of infold panels 40 and 41 has a riser portion 42 which extends above the first pair of end panels 32 and 33.

The second pair of end panels 34 and 35 have adjacent edges 43 and 44. A second pair of infold panels 45 and 46 respectively connected to the inner adjacent edges 43 and 44 of the second pair of end panels 34 and 35. The second pair of infold panels 45 and 46 extend inwardly in face-contacting relation and are secured together, such as by glue, to connect the inner adjacent edges 43 and 44 of the second pair of end panels 34 and 35. The second pair of infold panels 45 and 46 has a riser portion 47 which extends above the second pair of end panels 34 and 35.

The handle 21 comprises first and second telescopic handle means 50 and 51. The first telescopic handle means 50 comprises first and second handhold panels 52 and 53 each having first (outer) and second (inner) ends 54 and 55. The first (outer) end 54 of the first and second handhold panels 52 and 53 are joined along integral vertical fold lines to the riser portion 42 of the first pair of infold panels 40 and 41. The second (inner) end 55 of the first and second handhold panels 52 and 53 extends toward and substantially reaches the riser portion 47 of the second pair of infold panels 45 and 46. The first and second handhold panels 52 and 53 each have inner surfaces secured to each other, such as by glue, and are disposed on opposite side faces of the riser portion 42 of the first pair of infold panels 46 and 41 and are secured thereto to constitute a load-carrying connection between the first telescopic handle means 50 and the first pair of end panels 32 and 33. The first handhold panel 52 when folded and glued into the handle as a part thereof may be designated as the first inside panel and the second handhold panel 53 when folded and glued into the handle as a part thereof may be designated as the second inside panel, see FIGURES 4 and 5.

The second telescopic handle means 51 comprises third and fourth handhold panels 60 and 61 each having first (outer) and second (inner) ends 62 and 63. The first (outer) end 62 of the third and fourth handhold panels 60 and 61 are joined along integral vertical fold lines to the riser portion 47 of the second pair of infold panels 45 and 46. The second (inner) end 63 of the third and fourth handhold panels 60 and 61 extends toward and substantially reaches the riser portion 42 of the first pair of infold panels 40 and 41. The third and fourth handhold panels 60 and 61 each have inner surfaces secured such as by glue, to the outer surfaces of the first and second handhold panels 52 and 53' and are disposed on opposite side faces of the riser portion 47 of the second pair of infold panels 45 and 46 and are secured thereto to constitute a load-carrying connection Jetween the second telescopic handle means 51 and the ;econd pair of end panels 34 and 35. The third handhold and 69, when folded and glued into the handle as a part hereof, may be designated as the third outside panel 1nd the fourth handhold panel 61, when folded and glued into the handle as a part thereof, may be designated [3 the fourth outside panel, see FIGURES 4 and 5. The :ombined length of the first and second telescopic handle means 50 and 51 is substantially the same as the length lf the side walls 30 and 31. The first and second tandhold panels 52 and 53 are substantially identical vith each other and are joined together at their top edges long an integral horizontal fold line 66. The third and ourth handhold panels 60 and 61 are substantially idential with each other and are joined together at their top dge along an integral horizontal fold line 67. The blank ainlded about its central fold lines 66 and 67 with the 4 upper half as if raised from the patent drawing sheet and then folded down over the lower half, whereby the upper end portion 28 may be glued to the marginal edge portion of the base panel 27.

The side wall 31 has first and second side hinge-connection portions 70 and 71 and the side wall 30 has third and fourth side hinge-connection portions 72 and 73. The side hinge-connection portions are disposed respectively at the one-third points along the length of the sides. The location of these points depends upon the number of subcompartments in a single row and the point locations for each partition may be designated as (l/n), where (n) is the number of subcompartments in a single row.

The third handhold panel 60 has first and second handle hinge-connection portions 78 and 79 and the fourth handhold panel 61 has third and fourth handle hinge-connection portions 80 and 81. The handle hinge-connection portions are disposed respectively at the one-third points along the combined length of the first and second telescopic handle means 50 and 51. The location of these points depends upon the number of subcompartments in a single row and the point location for each partition may be designated (l/n), where (n) is the number of subcompartments in a single row. The handle hinge-connection portions are disposed vertically higher from the base than the side hinge-connection portions, in that the bottom of the handle hinge-connection portions are substantially on the same level as the top of the side hinge-connection portions with the result that the area of the folded handle panels which is sidewise eo-extensive with the handle hinge-connection portion is devoid of a thick portion due to the side hinge-connection portion 70 being reversibly folded, an inherent fault in a high-center display carrier.

The four partitions 22 and 23, and 24 and 25 have outer ends respectively connected to the side hinge-connection portions 70 and 71, and 72 and 73, and have inner ends respectively connected to handle hinge-connection portions 78 and 79, and 80 and 81. The first and third handle hinge-connection portions 78 and 80 are disposed back-to-back and joined together, such as by glue, to opposite sides of the handhold panel 53. In the foldable collapsed condition of the carrier during the gluing and pressing operation, the partition 22 is folded in a reverse direction against the handhold panel 52, that is,

the foldable handle hinge-connection portion 78 is bent degrees, see FIGURE 5. Thus, during the gluing and pressing operation there are four thicknesses (panels 22, 52, 53 and 24) at the first and third handle hingeconnection portions 78 and 80, whereby the pressing operation is given full opportunity to press the partition junctures firmly together without interference from a thick portion. In the present invention, the partition 24, in the foldable collapsed condition, is folded in a straightline direction (zero degrees) against the panel 53 instead of in a reverse direction, as in the case with a high-center display carrier.

In the present invention, the second and fourth handle hinge-connection portions 79 and 81 are also disposed back-to-back and joined together, such as by glue. At this partition juncture, the handhold panels 52 and 53 are glued together and define at least two joined inside panel thicknesses with opposite outer panel surfaces against which the second and fourth handle hinge-connection portions 79 and 81 are glued, see FIGURE 4. Thus, during the gluing and pressing operation there are four panel thicknesses (panels 23, 52, 53 and 25) at this partition juncture. The two partitions 23 and 25, in the foldable collapsed condition of the carrier, are respectively folded in a straight-line direction (zero degrees) against the inside handhold panels 52 and 53. As will be seen by the present structure, the handhold panel 53 extends all the way across between the two partition junctures and thereby acts as a low separating panel for the bottles in the two middle subcompartments. Thus, the handhold panel 53 is not of necessity cut away between the two sets of partition junctures, as is the case with a highcenter display carrier. Accordingly, the handle panel between the two sets of partition junctures has a low edge and gives better protection to the bottles against breakage. By eliminating at least one of the two reversibly folded (180 degrees) partition junctures, as found in a high-center display carrier, my present structure is able to avoid the necessity of the cutting away of the portion of the handheld panel 53 between the two sets of partition junctures and at the same time provide four panel thicknesses thereat whereby the carrier may be firmly glued together without interference. Accordingly, the back-to-back partition junctures (four thicknesses) are firmly glued together to provide a strong connection which was formerly a weak connection in the high-center display carriers.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of FIGURE 3 and shows the addition of a foldable filler panel 82 which during assembly is reversibly folded against the third handhold panel 60. The panel 82 acts as a filler panel, see FIGURE 7. Its use in practice is optional.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A compartment-carrier constructed of paperboard and comprising a box compartment having first and second opposed side walls with each having a lower edge and having first and second opposed end walls with each having a riser portion, a base having outer edges connected respectively to the lower edges of said side walls, handle means extending substantially co-extensive with and disposed substantially centrally of said side walls, said handle means having a first end portion connected to the riser portion of said first end wall and a second end portion connected to the riser portion of said second end wall, said handle means generally having at least four panel thicknesses joined together, said at least four panel thicknesses comprising at least first and second inside panels and third and fourth outside panels, at least first and second opposed partition members having inner ends connected back-to-back to said handle means and having outer ends connected respectively to said first and second side walls, first hinge-connection means connecting the inner end of said first partition member to said first inside panel, second hinge-connection means connecting the inner end of said second partition member to said fourth outside panel, said first and second hinge-connection means being joined back-to-back to opposite sides of said second inside panel, whereby said first and second hinge-connection means and said second inside panel constitute a firm back-to-back partition juncture for connecting the inner ends of said first and second opposed partition members to said handle means, said first partition member in a foldable collapsed condition being foldable fiatwise in a reverse direction against said first inside panel and said second partition member in the same foldable collapsed condition being foldable flatwise in a straight-line direction against said first inside panel.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said box compartment has third and fourth opposed partition members having inner ends connected back-to-back to said handle means and having outer ends connected respectively to said first and second side walls, third hinge-connection means connecting the inner end of said third partition member to said third outside panel, fourth hinge-connection means connecting the inner end of said fourth partition member to said fourth outside panel, said first and second inside panels being joined together between said third and fourth hinge-connection means and defining at least two inside panel thicknesses with opposite outer panel surfaces, said third and fourth hinge-connection means being joined back-to-back to said opposite outer panel surfaces, whereby said third and fourth hinge-connection means and said two panel thicknesses constitute a firm back-to-back partition juncture for connecting said third and fourth opposed partition members to said handle means.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said box compartment has third and fourth opposed partition members having inner ends connected back-to-back to said handle means and having outer ends connected respectively to said first and second side walls, third hinge-connection means connecting the inner end of said third partition member to said third outside panel, fourth hinge-connection means connecting the inner end of said fourth partition member to said fourth outside panel, said first and second inside panels being joined together between said third and fourth hinge-connection means and defining at least two inside panel thicknesses with opposite outer panel surfaces, said third and fourth hinge-connection means being joined back-to-back to said opposite outer panel surfaces, whereby said third and fourth hinge-connection means and said two panel thicknesses constitute a firm back-to-back partition juncture for connecting said third and fourth opposed partition members to said handle means, and wherein said third and fourth partition members in said collapsed condition are folded in a straightline direction, respectively, against said first and second inside panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,615 1/1951 Arneson.

2,776,072 1/ 1957 Farrer 220-113 2,785,827 3/1957 Farrer 22013 3,138,285 6/1964 Wenzel 220-113 3,140,797 7/1964 Arneson 220-113 3,152,719 10/1964 Woodling 220161 3,232,477 2/ 1966 Woodling 220-1 13 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMPARTMENT-CARRIER CONSTRUCTED OF PAPERBOARD AND COMPRISING A BOX COMPARTMENT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED SIDE WALLS WITH EACH HAVING A LOWER EDGE AND HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS WITH EACH HAVING A RISER PORTION, A BASE HAVING OUTER EDGES CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, HANDLE MEANS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY CO-EXTENSIVE WITH AND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID HANDLE MEANS HAVING A FIRST END PORTION CONNECTED TO THE RISER PORTION OF SAID FIRST END WALL AND A SECOND END PORTION CONNECTED TO THE RISER PORTION OF SAID SECOND END WALL, SAID HANDLE MEANS GENERALLY HAVING AT LEAST FOUR PANEL THICKNESSES JOINED TOGETHER, SAID AT LEAST FOUR PANEL THICKNESSES COMPRISING AT LEAST FIRST AND SECOND INSIDE PANELS AND THIRD AND FOURTH OUTSIDE PANELS, AT LEAST FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED PARTITION MEMBERS HAVING INNER ENDS CONNECTED BACK-TO-BACK TO SAID HANDLE MEANS AND HAVING OUTER ENDS CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID FIRST AND 